Go Western Day!

Getting ready for Go Western Day at Creme

got my boots on!

All set! Please hand me my spurs, pistols & lasso, Mommy

Yesterday was Go Western Day at Creme and all over Houston. The Rodeo festivities kicked off yesterday evening and in Houston the Rodeo is a big deal. Everyone dresses up like a cowboy and babies are no exception. As you can see, Claudia has her little cowgirl outfit complete with denim skirt. Unfortunately we haven't found any baby boots & spurs so Claudia had to make do with Mommy's red cowboy boots. She's got a few years until she grows into them. Gram & I are already busy planning CC's first trip to the Rodeo!

Three Cheers for Daddy!

Daddy & CC

Daddy loves his CC

Happy girl

This week has been a little chaotic with me traveling all over South Louisiana and Daddy at home working all day and playing Mr. Mom at night. I just want to give Russell some praise for being such a great dad and husband. We love you very much and don't know what we would do without you! XOXO, Meryl & CC

G&G Visit and the Princess Tent

this is Sophie, the heaven sent teething giraffe

reading in her Princess Tent Sunday morning

playing in the tent with Audrey on Saturday

CC has learned to give high fives. She gives Gram one up high.

Claudia telling Grandpa a joke

On Sunday Gram & Grandpa came over for a visit. Claudia was very excited to show them her Princess Tent. It was a Christmas present from Aunt T and we just put it up this weekend. Somehow we had forgotten about the Princess Tent until Claudia spent last weekend at G&G's with the play tent over there. We got it out & Russell put it together & she was in heaven. She loves to crawl in and out of it & play peek-a-boo in the windows. Winston also loves to jump on the walls of the tent and crawl inside as well... he managed to nearly collapse it last night, when he jumped on one side of the tent, so we will have to keep an eye on him. He's so sneaky!

The Show Must Go On

sweet girls getting ready for the show

the girls rushed the stage!

Mommy in the puppet theater

Claudia trades in her backstage pass

This weekend we had a little puppet show at our house for Claudia and Audrey. Needless to show, the babies brought down the house. The production was Noah's Ark. The girls were so excited about the puppets that they began to storm the stage, so to speak, climbing up and jumping onto the puppet theater. I think we are going to have to get a bigger and studier puppet house. The girls had a fun afternoon playing and are already set for the next show. We're not sure what production we'll put on next, but I'm sure it will be hilarious like this one.

Toothy Grin

kisses from daddy always get a toothy grin

Happy girl... zoom in to see all the crazy drool action

As you can see, Claudia is really getting some teeth in. She's got four on bottom, four on top, and some molars in the back. Thankfully, it hasn't hurt like getting in the front & bottom two did... or at least we think. Claudia has taken it great, no fussing. She drools like crazy & chews on anything she can get her hands on, but otherwise is happy as a clam. Just be sure to give her her Sophie giraffe. Here are some good pics of the emerging toothsies.

Fun Times at G&G's House

playing with some toys in the tent

peeking out of the tent tunnel

having fun

bringing some toys out of the tent

So for Valentine's Day, CC had a slumber party at Gram & Grandpa's house while Russell & I went out for a night on the town. Needless to say, she had a great time! They set up a little play tent filled with pillows that even had a little tunnel CC had to crawl through to get into the tent. The tent had little windows so we could see her. She had fun crawling in and out and just playing in the tent. Aunt T got CC a little pink play tent for Christmas. Looks like we better get it out! Here are some funny pics of CC playing in the tent.

My Precious Valentine

CC crawling around the house ...

Leaning in to give Daddy some sugar

CC slinging a bag of Valentines candy around... trying to bust into it

CC & her Valentines from Creme

Valentine from G&G

reading a Valentine card from Aunt T

getting ready to read!

Daddy giving CC her QT PIE chocolates

CC's Valentine Basket

Here are some pictures from Claudia's first Valentine's Day. Last Friday, Creme had their Valentine's Celebration so Claudia exchanged valentines with all of her buddies... Jake, Jacob, Juliette & Haley. We saved all her first Valentines so she can see them later. They are pretty cute... as was Claudia's. Claudia also got some Valentines in the mail from G&G and Aunt T & also got some cute stuffed animals from Grandaddy & Mama Kate. She was pretty excited about all this. Claudia had a sleepover at G&G's the night before Valentine's Day (pictures to follow!), so Russell & I had a night out on the town. We celebrated Valentine's with the little lady by giving her a basket of Valentine's goodies ... chocolates she can't eat (but Daddy can!), a heart-shaped bib, a little shirt that says "LOVE" with matching leggings and some books. She was most excited about her books ... and the wrapping tissue. All in all she had a great time being showered with Valentines from everyone and just getting lots of love. We love you CC! XOXO, Mommy & Daddy

Splish Splash, CC's Takin' a Bath!

CC in her robe, picking out some toys

little Mac!

CC on her froggie pad

getting suds up

all cleaned up & ready for bed!

Bath time has become quite a fun event in the McLendon house. CC loves splashing around in the tub on her froggie pad, playing with her favorite bath time friends... Quackers, Pengoo and Butterfly. She loves to splash around and play with her toys. The little lady will be taking swim lessons in April with her friend Jaanya and I have a feeling she is going to have some fun. She will be in the "minnow" swim group, with a couple of other little ones. Its time to get a new swim suit!

People Food

Daddy feeding CC his favorite food...

yogurt!

she loves it!

CC still eats mostly pureed baby meats, veggies, and fruits, but she is starting to eat more grownup foods too! Last night she had a mushed up & slightly watered down Shepherd's Pie. A few days ago she had mashed potatoes, little pieces of chicken and some squished up green beans. She's slowly getting used to chunkier textures and figuring out how to chew. Now that's she got all these teeth, its time to put them to good use!

Saints Win Super Bowl ... Believe It!

happy little Saints fan!

I don't think I'll be able to go to sleep tonight ... because the Saints just won the Super Bowl! Way to go Saints! We can't wait for CC to wake up in the morning so we can give her the great news!

Halftime Jitters

CC in her who dat get up, complete with tutu

CC ditches the tutu for splarkly pants and gold patent mary janes

Claudrey, having some pregame fun

Audrey, comes in for her close up

pregame wagon ride
Mommy and CC

It's halftime and we are all nerves at the McLendon house. We spent the afternoon at the McGraw's Super Bowl party where the girls fun playing and taking wagon rides and the grownups enjoyed some good eats. Everyone brought over their favorite Louisiana dishes. We brought over some stuffed pork and boudin balls and Russell made some delicious brownies from the Chef Folse cookbook. All the different foods were great and we had lots of fun visiting with the McGraws, the Echols and Tim and Kathleen. Now its halftime and we are back at home. CC has gone down for the evening and Russell is a bundle of nerves. The Saints have not been playing their best, but they have also contained the Colts. Let's hope the Saints dominate the second half! Go Saints!

The Valentine

a Valentine for CC

for me?!

CC's Valentine from G&G

moments before she devoured the envelope

Today we went to the mail and got a surprise! CC got her very first valentine. It is from Gram and Grandpa and it is so cute. CC was very excited to get the valentine. She particularly enjoyed opening the envelope and trying to eat the envelope and ladybug card. She is in the process of getting two more upper teeth (bringing the teeth total to 6!) and is chewing on everything. Today we are going to get our valentines ready to go out... if someone doesn't eat them first. =) Hugs and kisses to G&G for their valentine!